Thank You Community! Our Summer Reflections

The Center at Orchard Hill - September 2026

Hello Everyone,

Greetings at summer’s end! We had an INCREDIBLE summer. Each year, Day Camps inspire working, playing and growing in Summer fullness.

Now, as our kids return to school, we feel a chill in the air and begin Fall rhythms. We renew our spirits and attempt to keep pace with our changing lives, climate, social change, and the needs of so many for home, health and food. 

We live into solutions and the power of kindness and connecting, rather than conflict, blame, and fear.

We came together for 7 weeks of ACTION for PEACE, FRIENDSHIP, and COMMUNITY.

The May and June days were packed with sweat work lifting, earth moving, building the village sites, soccer field and pond and securing funding for our campers who need scholarship.

We held Training and Orientation for staff, then DAYCAMPS BEGAN!! Making Art, Circle, Bread, Berries, Wee Folk and Wild Forest, Learning how to engage every camper, building waterways and swimming in the pond. Friendships were made that will last forever.

Daycamps are a life changing and fully inspirational time for every child, teenager, camper or staff, community and family members, staff person. Daycamps and the community we are gives hope that carries on into the school year and work lives of those it touches. 

Our Staff - Thank you!

We welcomed 50 campers and 15 teenagers, who joined our adult staff of teachers and artists to co-create a summer of work with purpose, steep learning curves, friendships that can last a lifetime, teamwork beyond teamwork and generative energy. We are an inter-generational team, families and collaborators working across four generations.

We cannot say enough to express our gratitude to our most senior counselors who’s peer mentoring led the way for our junior counselors and CITs. When we say “learn in community” it’s not an isolated experience, but one that will serve every single aspect of these children and young adult lives. Thank you Asher, Salvador and Aster for your leadership, humor, and deep care.

West African Dance and Drum Classes

Another community-wide and inspirational gathering was a series of West African Dance and Drumming classes led by Jumoke Ajanku. Members of Kamala’s year round Thursday night dance class, shared the Thursday night slot to open up more for the energy of the drum, the heartbeat that includes us.

The classes were thrilling! Thank you Jumoke.

This year, Jumoke took on a role as co-director of Day Camps and the long lasting energy created. He taught summer camps as well as joined Sammy and Eleanor in the leadership of this dynamic program.

Pizza Night and Orchard Hill Breadworks

The Breadworks merges support of local organizations, farmers and producers, with thousands of residents in a Community benefit event.

As beneficiaries we are grateful and forever energized by the enormous output offered by Breadworks crew who made 450 pizzas for the community every Tuesday all summer.

Our night on August 11th was a joy. Plus, our Pizza Night happened to be a beautiful evening of weather! There was wonderful music, the joy was palpable and we felt the whole community was nurtured.

Thank you to the volunteers who worked their hours full heartedly. We couldn’t do it without you.

Upcoming Events

Saturday October 24th - Green Up Day

Saturday November 14th - Lantern Walk

Wednesday December 2nd - Spiral Walk

Join a weekly group

All our classes and groups are welcoming more participation! There is space for you. All our weekly groups will continue into the New Year. Community, Stillness, Movement, and Togetherness happen through these classes every week.

Please contact them directly for updates on cancellations or changes.

Quaker Meeting Sundays, 9:30 - 10:30 am

Contact Emily Mason, OHquakers@gmail.com 

Radiance Yoga with Elizabeth Bunker Wednesdays, 4:15pm

Contact Elizabeth at 978-793-2256

Walking Tree Zen Meditation Tuesdays, 7:00pm

Contact Kathy Byrne at 603-321-1572

Shapenote Sing 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 6:30 pm

Contact Eleanor at 603-499-3422

Orisha Inspired Dance Class Thursdays 6:30 pm

Contact Kamala at 603-209-0334 or by email kamaladance@gmail.com.

GRATITUDES

THANK YOU! Our deep Gratitudes to the following organizations and individuals:

Ian Meyers for his generous gift to make our youth and counselors staff training week possible.

Cheshire Kids Farm Scholarship and the Cheshire County Conversation Commision, thank you! You have pulled us through year after year with your generous gift to future farmers and gardeners.

The Catalyst Fund, Your continued support is a true catalyst for a thriving multi-generational learning experience. Your gifts open pathways for our leaders, campers, and the whole team to feel the worth of their big efforts.

Super Feet & Ryan Strickland, our former student, camper then counselor, then staff, Ryan is a millennial giving back to the place that held and grew him!! 

Joyce Curll, you have celebrated, witnessed, and cared for this community. You and Dan together for years and years to support all the people of Fall Mountain region.

Bishop Holle Memorial Fund, in the name of our beloved nephew who knew and embodied the spirit of the wild forest, the pond, the bugs and the blending of water, mud and art. This scholarship will go forward to keep this spirit alive. 

New Hampshire Charitable Trust, thank you for ongoing support through generous discretionary funds to keep the Center going.

Acworth Conservation Commission, thank you for supporting our Acworth campers once again!

Alstead Conversation Commision, thank you for supporting our Alstead campers each year!

Lucy Beatty, Ann Burk, and Joel McCarty, thank you for your generous recent donations.

To our friends and neighbors who continue to offer monthly recurring donations, thank you! These sustain us and make the day-to-day possible.

Caroline Putnam for teaching FOUR ASL classes! Thank you to Aubree Putnam for interpreting!

Tafi Brown for arts materials, thank you!

Merrilee Frable for material and lights! Thank you!

Eren, thank you, for donating much needed cleaning after camp sessions.

Eli Jahos for providing the sand for our new beach! Thank you!

Hans & Laurel, and Anton, thank you! Your stewardship of all the land of Orchard Hill, the grounds of Daycamps, and The Center are a living legacy.

All the care providers, grandparents, neighbors, best friends, and families that came together and organized to bring their kids to this camp. Your gifts, honestly, make this possible, so we can hire gifted staff of all ages and diverse abilities.

Onward!

View original post